S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5779
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
June 4, 2009
___________
Introduced by Sen. THOMPSON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
ment Operations
AN ACT to amend the public buildings law, in relation to establishing
the state green building construction act, and to repeal article 13 of
the energy law relating thereto
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings and declarations. Green building prac-
tices can reduce the production of greenhouse gases, lower energy costs,
reduce the use of natural resources, reduce waste, improve indoor air
quality, and reduce indoor and outdoor pollution. This act requires that
the construction and substantial renovation of state buildings comply
with "green" building standards established by the office of general
services. Building "green" will have positive impacts on our environ-
ment, provide healthier indoor environments, and reduce costs.
S 2. Article 13 of the energy law is REPEALED.
S 3. The public buildings law is amended by adding a new article 4-C
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4-C
STATE GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ACT
SECTION 80. SHORT TITLE.
81. DEFINITIONS.
82. APPLICABILITY.
83. AGENCY GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS.
S 80. SHORT TITLE. THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS THE
"STATE GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ACT".
S 81. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE:
1. "AGENCY" SHALL MEAN A STATE DEPARTMENT, STATE AGENCY, OR STATE
PUBLIC AUTHORITY.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06347-04-9
S. 5779 2
2. "AUTHORITY" SHALL MEAN THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
3. "BUILDING" SHALL MEAN A BUILDING OR STRUCTURE THAT IS OWNED BY THE
STATE OR BY AN AGENCY.
4. "OFFICE" SHALL MEAN THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES.
5. "SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION" SHALL MEAN A SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATION OF
AN EXISTING BUILDING AND SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO ADDITIONS,
ALTERATIONS, AND RECONSTRUCTION AS DETERMINED PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS
PROMULGATED BY THE OFFICE PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE.
S 82. APPLICABILITY. THIS ARTICLE SHALL APPLY TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF
NEW BUILDINGS AND THE SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS,
EXCEPT THAT THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT APPLY IN THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:
1. AN EXISTING BUILDING THAT HAS A HISTORIC STATUS PURSUANT TO FEDERAL,
STATE OR LOCAL LAW AND COMPLIANCE WITH CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND
PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE WOULD ALTER THE HISTORIC
CHARACTER OF SUCH BUILDING;
2. IN THE CASE OF A SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION, COMPLIANCE WITH
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS
ARTICLE WOULD NOT BE COST EFFECTIVE OVER THE USEFUL LIFE OF SUCH RENO-
VATION AS DETERMINED PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO
THIS ARTICLE;
3. COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ARTICLE OR WITH CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND
PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE WOULD BE INCONSISTENT
WITH OR VIOLATE FEDERAL OR STATE LAW;
4. SUCH OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES AS THE OFFICE MAY REASONABLY DETERMINE
PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS TO NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTI-
CLE; OR
5. THE DESIGN OR PLANNING PROCESS FOR SUCH NEW CONSTRUCTION OR
SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION HAS SUBSTANTIALLY COMMENCED, AS DEFINED BY THE
OFFICE IN REGULATIONS, AS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REGULATIONS
PROMULGATED BY THE OFFICE PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE; PROVIDED HOWEVER,
THAT WHENEVER SUBDIVISION ONE, TWO, THREE OR FOUR APPLIES, THE
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES SHALL BE INTEGRATED INTO THE
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICA-
BLE.
S 83. AGENCY GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS. 1. THE
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDINGS AND THE SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION OF EXISTING
BUILDINGS SHALL COMPLY WITH SUCH GREEN CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND
PROCEDURES AS SHALL HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE OFFICE IN REGULATIONS
PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
2. THE OFFICE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE AUTHORITY, THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE DORMITORY
AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, THE DEPART-
MENT OF EDUCATION, THE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESER-
VATION, AND ANY OTHER AGENCY AS DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE THAT MAY BE
AFFECTED BY THIS ARTICLE, SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS ESTAB-
LISHING CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT
THIS ARTICLE, INCLUDING THE EXCEPTIONS DESCRIBED IN SECTION EIGHTY-TWO
OF THIS ARTICLE. IN ESTABLISHING SUCH REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES, THE
OFFICE MAY CONSULT GREEN CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES ESTAB-
LISHED OR ADOPTED BY OTHER AGENCIES, AND BY PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE UNITED STATES GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
UNDER ITS LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN PROGRAMS, THE
GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE'S GREEN GLOBES RATING SYSTEM, AND THE AMERICAN
NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE.
S. 5779 3
3. FOR PURPOSES OF MONITORING COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ARTICLE AND THIS
ARTICLE'S EFFECTIVENESS, EACH AGENCY SHALL PREPARE BY JUNE THIRTIETH OF
EACH YEAR AN ANNUAL BUILDING PERFORMANCE REPORT IN SUCH FORM AND
CONTAINING SUCH INFORMATION AS THE OFFICE MAY REQUIRE, WHICH MAY RELATE
TO SUCH MATTERS AS ENERGY CONSUMPTION, WASTE REDUCTION, INDOOR AIR QUAL-
ITY, WATER REDUCTIONS AND MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES. SUCH
REPORT SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO THE OFFICE UPON REQUEST.
S 4. This act shall take effect immediately, provided however that
section two of this act shall be deemed to have been in full force and
effect on and after September 25, 2008; and provided further, that
section three of this act shall take effect on the three hundred sixty-
fifth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however that
effective immediately, the office of general services is authorized to
promulgate, amend or repeal any rule or regulation which it deems neces-
sary or appropriate to implement section three of this act.